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NILES -- Five new firefighters have joined the ranks of the Niles Fire Department, with their salaries paid with a grant set to expire at the end of 2018.
The newest additions are Justin Ross of Howland, Adam Kashien of Niles, Abigail Cline of Warren, Ryan Fowler of Chesterland and Thomas Cantola of Niles. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant will pay for one more firefighter, but the department is waiting for a new list from the Civil Service Commission to start the interview process, fire Chief Dave Danielson said.
Fire Lt. John Stevens applied for the $1 million grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Cline, Kashien and Cantola also have medical training.
After the sixth firefighter is hired, the department will be at its temporary authorized strength of 33. City Council approved a temporary increase from 30 when the grant was accepted last year.
Danielson said he hopes to keep the authorized strength at 33 even after the grant expires. Before the new hires, the department only had 27 firefighters. Two are planning to retire before 2019, Danielson said.
The new additions should reduce the amount of overtime in the department, Danielson said. The department also will apply for an extension of the grant.
Although Danielson and Mayor Tom Scarnecchia were not exactly sure how the city will continue paying for the new firefighters, both seemed confident they would remain on the ranks.
"The issue of their pay after the grant expires is in the back of my mind, but I have hope that we will be in the right financial shape and there shouldn't be a disruption of their service," Scarnecchia said.
The general fund has been getting "healthier" Scarnecchia said, and it should be in good shape by the end of 2018.
"By 2019, we should be in better shape financially. It depends on that, but I am hopeful we will find a way," Danielson said.
Cline, the first woman to serve on the Niles Fire Department, said she is is not worried about the expiration of the grant.
"I'll just take it one day at a time," Cline said.
Scarnecchia said he was proud to have the first woman firefighter in the city. Cline said she is following in her father's footsteps and loves the work because it gives her a chance to do something new every day.
Danielson said Cline was a good hire.
"She is a firefighter. A firefighter is a firefighter," Danielson said.